The 1982 Castle Knights Championship Run

Game 11

Castle 23

Richmond 7

Nov. 2 — Castle Stadium

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE –In the opening round of the 1982 Indiana High School Football AAA Playoffs, the Knights would march 80 yards in 10 plays on their opening possession to take a 6-0 lead on a nine-yard pitch out to senior running back David Brosmer.

The Red Devils fought right back, however, as quarterback Sean Welsh completed first-down passes of 13, 23 and 15 yards before sending tailback Bart Denning over left tackle for a two-yard touchdown and a 7-6 lead.

A 24-yard field goal by senior kicker Matt McDowell gave the Knights the lead for good at 9-7. The Knights put Richmond away as senior quarterback Mike Davis hit junior receiver Deon Chester on a nine-yard pass, junior receiver Joe Huff on a 22-yard pass, and senior fullback Neil Chapman on an 11-yard strike before junior running back Chris Brosmer powered the ball over the goal line from the one for a 16-7 lead.

Richmond couldn’t move the ball in the second half thanks to a blistering Knights’ defense that sacked the Red Devil quarterback five times for 53 yards in losses.

The Knights erased any lingering doubts as to the game’s outcome with a double dose of the Brosmer brothers. After Chris scampered for 25 yards, brother David took it home from the three, resulting in the final score of 23-7.

The 1982 Castle Knights Championship Run

Game 10

Castle 27

North 7

Oct. 26 — Central Stadium

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE –Castle would clinch home-field advantage in the playoffs by beating an Evansville North team that refused to give up despite being hefty underdogs.

Even though North quarterback Brad Green kept the game closer than it should have been thanks to connecting on 7-13 passes for 73 yards, running for a 25-yard touchdown and intercepting two Castle passes, the Knights eventually overpowered the Huskies in the second half.

Castle opened the game by driving 63 yards in eight rushing plays before senior running back David Brosmer scored from eight yards out for a 7-0 lead. A North fumble would result in Castle having the ball only 16 yards from the end zone. Despite a strong North goal line stand, Brosmer rammed the ball into the end zone from a yard out six plays later for a 14-0 lead with only 18 seconds left before halftime.

Starting at the 30, North’s Green passed deep to receiver Brian Pfingston who made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch before pushed out at the Castle 25-yard line. On the next play, Green dropped to pass and was flushed left by the Castle rush. Scrambling across the line of scrimmage, Green cut right, against the grain, and ran untouched into the end zone.

Castle Coach John Lidy took the opportunity to tell his team it needed to be more aggressive in the second half. They were listening, scoring on their first two second-half possessions (three-yard runs by senior quarterback Mike Davis and by junior running back Chris Brosmer) before Lidy called in the reserves.

Overall, the Knights out gained the Huskies 344 to 129 in total yards, but even more importantly, they had secured a first-round home playoff game. The Indiana state AAA football playoffs were coming to Paradise.

The 1982 Castle Knights Championship Run

Game 9

Castle 34

Bosse 7

Oct. 1 — Castle Stadium

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE — Castle would storm to 9-0 record with a hard-earned victory over Evansville Bosse, which became the first team all season to score a second-half touchdown on the Knights.

After the teams traded initial possessions, Castle lit up the scoreboard on a two-play, 89-yard drive that took less than a minute, On first down, senior running back David Brosmer collected 14 yards off right tackle. On second down, senior quarterback Mike Davis went deep, finding junior receiver Deon Chester for a 75-yard bomb right down the center of the field.

A few possessions later, the Knights went back to work, giving the Bull Dogs a double dose of the Brosmer brothers. David picked up a first down on two carries for 14 yards. After Chris picked up six yards on a reverse, David picked up five yards and a first down himself. After a 12-yard pass from Davis gave the Knights yet another first down, David ran a draw for 11 yards before blasting through the offensive line for a 14-yard touchdown run and a 14-0.

Bosse would mount a brief comeback when sophomore quarterback Scott O’Brien found receiver Jeff Chestnut for a 28-yard touchdown pass, cutting Castle’s lead to 14-7.

That score was enough to rouse the slumbering Knights, who would score on three of their next four possessions — including a three-yard run by David Brosmer, a one-yard run by senior fullback Neil Chapman and a seven-yard run by Chris Brosmer — to put the 34-7 victory in the bag.

“It feels good,” Castle Coach John Lidy told reporters. “Last year we didn’t know (about getting into the playoffs) until the final day. Now we’re in, and we can concentrate on the home field advantage.”

The 1982 Castle Knights Championship Run

Game 8

Castle 30

TH North 6

Oct. 15 — Castle Stadium

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE –Facing the last team with a winning record on their schedule, the Knights took apart 5-2 Terre Haute North with a workmanship effort.

The Knights struck first near the end of the first quarter when senior running back David Brosmer fought his way over the goal line from the one to cap a 47-yard drive for a 7-0 lead.

The Patriots responded with a lengthy drive of their own, traveling 80 yards in 11 plays as fullback John Collett sneaked in from the one-yard line. Senior end Craig Day blocked the extra point attempt, leaving the Knights with a 7-6 lead. It would be all they would need.

Awakened by Terre Haute North’s drive, the Knights powered their way down the field, including a 37-yard run by Brosmer to cap an 80-yard drive as senior quarterback Mike Davis connected with sophomore running back Scott Thurman on a six-yard touchdown pass.

Leading 14-6, the Knights would assume total command outscoring the Patriots 16-0 in the second half. As usual, David Brosmer seemed to be everywhere. After taking a pitch out early in the third period, Brosmer raced 33 yards around left end for the touchdown giving the Knights a 21-6 advantage.

On North’s next possession, Brosmer picked off a Bob Bowen pass at the Patriots 39-yard line moments later.A few plays later Davis would find senior end Kenny Brown for a nine-yard touchdown pass and a 27-6 lead. Senior kicker Matt McDowell would add a 27-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to give the Knights a 40-6 lead as Coach John Lidy sent in the reserves.

Brosmer ambled for 145 yards on 20 carries and Davis added 144 yards through the air as the Knights improved to 8-0.

Game 7

Castle 33

Memorial 6

Oct. 8 — Enlow Field

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE — At 6-0, Castle expected a tough match up against its next opponent as the Knights traveled to Enlow Field to take on the 5-1 Memorial Tigers.

Playoff scouts in attendance got much more than the Castle power running game that they were expecting when senior quarterback Mike Davis exploded for 277 yards passing on seven of 12 attempts.

The Tigers stunned the capacity crowd of 7,000 by scoring first, thanks to a 63-yard run by Memorial running back Mark Wooten that set up quarterback Bob Scheitlin’s four-yard run moments later.

For the first time in the 1982 football season, the Knights would find themselves behind on the scoreboard. Down 6-0, Coach John Lidy sent in a play the team had been perfecting in practice all season — 600 Fleaflicker. Davis hit junior receiver Deon Chester who instantaneously flicked the ball to the trailing running back, senior David Brosmer who raced untouched on his way to a 69-yard touchdown.

Up 7-6, it would soon be all Castle. After the break, senior fullback Neil Chapman caught a pass from Davis and waltzed into the end zone untouched for a 32-yard touchdown. Five minutes later, Davis would hit junior receiver Joe Huff on an 88-yard touchdown strike (the longest in Castle history at the time) for a 19-6 lead.

In the fourth quarter, David Brosmer reversed field and scored from the 17 and senior running back Joe Dillman scored from the 14 to finish the scoring in the 33-6 drubbing of one of Evansville’s best teams.

The 1982 Castle Knights Championship Run

Game 5

Castle 41

Central 0

Sept. 25 — Central Stadium

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE — Fresh off the varsity program’s first win ever at the Reitz Bowl, the now-six-ranked Knights would travel to Central Stadium to take on a resurgent Bears team that had surprisingly powered to a 3-1 record.

Twenty-one first quarter points would put the game away before most people were comfortably in their seats. Junior running back Chris Brosmer found pay dirt first for the Knights when he sliced off left guard behind a great block by senior tackle Steve Yeager halfway through the first quarter.

Two minutes later, the Knights went back to work after a Central punt with senior running back David Brosmer hauling in a pass from senior quarterback Mike Davis and, juking the defender out of his shoes at the 20-yard line, taking it in for a 60-yard touchdown.

With less than a minute left, the Knights surprised the Bears when senior end Kenny Brown flipped a 30-yard pass to David Brosmer off a reverse, giving the Knights a first down at the Central 13. Three plays later, Brosmer followed pulling guards Rodney Russell and Dan Thurman into the end zone for a 21-0 lead.

A leaping interception by senior Craig Day ended the next Central drive giving the Knights the ball at the Bears 27. After a four-yard loss on first down, David Brosmer took the hand off on a draw play and raced 31 yards for the score and a 28-0 halftime lead.

Two quick second half scores — a four-yard run by senior fullback Neil Chapman to cap a six-play, 56-yard drive, and a four-yard run by David Brosmer to cap a five-play, 47-yard drive that included a spectacular 38-yard dash by the senior running back.

Game 4

Castle 24

Reitz 7

Sept. 17 — Reitz Bowl

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE — After three games, the Castle Knights had stormed to a 3-0 record by outscoring their opponents 109-7 with the lone points scored against them coming on a kickoff return. With the defense still having not yielded an offensive touchdown and averaging 380 yards in total offense while giving up only 41.3 yards per game, the Knights would face that ever-present bump in the road to their dreams: the Reitz Panthers, the bully on the block when it comes to Evansville-area football.

The Knights would change the future at the Reitz Bowl (where a Castle varsity team had never won before) by keeping to the present. The Knights would run up 20 first downs and 367 yards in total offense while limiting the Panthers to eight first downs and 139 yards in offense.

Senior running back David Brosmer scored two touchdowns — one-yard run and a 31-yard pass from senior quarterback Mike Davis, who added his own nine-yard touchdown run and 142 yards passing. Senior kicker Matt McDowell added a 29-yard field goal.Junior running back Chris Brosmer added 116 on 21 carries.

Reitz’s lone score came when quarterback Kirk Brunson hit receiver Robert Geiser on a 10-yard touchdown pass shortly before halftime.

“That’s a pretty good football team,” Reitz Coach Bob Ashworth told the Evansville Courier. “They’re the best we’ve played. They’re by far the most versatile offensively and defensively. Maybe the most impressive thing is they make no mistakes.”

Game 3

Castle 29

Harrison 7

Sept. 10 — Castle Stadium

ON THE ROAD TO PARADISE — Fresh off its 52-0 decimation of the Boonville Pioneers, the 1982 Castle Knights would welcome the Evansville Harrison Warriors to Paradise. The Warriors would accomplish something that neither Mater Dei or Boonville could — they would score on the Castle Knights.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Knights would strike first blood thanks to a double does of the Brosmer brothers. Chris Brosmer would gain 20 yards on a fake punt attempt, giving the Knights a first down at the Harrison 42-yard line. David Brosmer did the rest on the next play, bolting through a hole, veering left and sailing into the end zone untouched. Kicker Matt McDowell‘s extra point would give the Knights a 7-0 lead.It wouldn’t last long.

On the ensuing kickoff, senior running back Lamont Williams ran it right up the gut of the Knights’ kickoff team and 88 yards later had tied the game. It may have been Harrison’s biggest mistake as the fired-up Knights promptly embarked on an eight-play, 71-yard drive to retake a 14-7 lead on a David Brosmer three-yard run.

Chris Brosmer would raise the Knights’ advantage to 22-7 half way through the third period thanks to a 54-yard run and a run around right end for a two-point conversion. Fullback Neil Chapman would finish the Knights’ scoring with a six-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Mike Davis, capping off a 59-yard drive early in the fourth quarter.

Overall, the Knights would thoroughly dominate the Warriors, posting 15 first downs to Harrison’s three and 364 total yards to the Warrirors’ 60 yards.